The leaders maintained that there was a dire need of reconciliation among all political forces in Nepal as nationality and sovereignty of the country now faces unprecedented risks. [break]They also argued that reconciliation among all political forces will only help resolve the deadlock facing the country in the aftermath of CA dissolution.
Addressing a function organized at B P Koirala Museum in Sundarijal to mark the 37th National Reconciliation Day on Monday, NC President Sushil Koirala said the reconciliation policy adopted by the late B P Koirala are equally relevant these days as the sovereignty and territorial integrity are at risk. "Nepali Congress took the initiative to bring the Maoists into the mainstream politics under the reconciliation policy espoused by the late B P Koirala," said Koirala.
NC President Sushil Koirala offers garlands. (Photo: Bijay Rai)
Koirala argued that the country would not have faced current crises had the Maoists abided by the reconciliation policy that NC adopted to bring them to the political mainstream. "There had been several agreements in the past. Problem has arisen as the Maoists have failed largely to implement those agreements," he said.
NC started observing National Reconciliation Day, marking the day when late B P Koirala returned home from exile in India on December 30, 1976 as per the national reconciliation policy. He returned home with a new proposal -- reconciliation between nationalist and democratic forces -- as the two forces were at daggers drawn after then King Mahendra disbanded the elected parliament under him in December 15, 1960, banned political parties and put thousands of political leaders behind bars.
Even as monarchy stood firmly against multi-party democratic system, B P Koirala was respectful toward the institution of monarchy for the larger national interest of the country. He believed that a reconciliation could help preserve and protect Nepal´s unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty in times of national crisis.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati SJB Rana said B P was tallest figure in the history of Nepal´s democratic movement. "Since Nepal´s national identity was in critical stage, the reconciliation policy of B P Koirala holds greater relevance now. There is no alternative to reconciliation among political parties to bail the country out of the current political crises," he said.
NC CWC member Kul Bahadur Gurung said Nepal is now passing through a critical phase similar to the one the country saw after Sugauli Treaty after a defeat in the war. "There is a possibility of Nepal losing its identity if all Nepalis did not start thinking collectedly for the country´s good," he said adding that reconciliation among all political forces is a must.
Koirala with Rastriya Prajantra Party Pashupati Shumsher Rana. (Photo: Bijay Rai)
Senior NC leader Purushottam Basnet, who has authored books on the history of the NC, said B P Koirala had decided to come back home from India even as he faced a risk of either getting capital punishment or imprisonment.
Koirala along with another NC leader Ganesh Man Singh was put in Sundarijal jail shortly after they landed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. "The challenges our country faces now are greater than the ones faced by Nepal during the time of BP´s decision to return home. "While setting aside their differences, it is high time all parties stood united for the cause of nation and national identity now," he said.
The function on Monday also marked the release of a book entitled -- Statements of B P Koirala to the Courts -- by NC President Koirala. The book contains late Koirala´s speeches in which he appealed for national reconciliation and his statements to the courts while he had been held as political prisoner for opposing then royal takeover.
I won´t be PM of ´majority govt´: Koirala
Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala has said he would not become prime minister of a "majority-based government".
Addressing function organized to mark the 37th National Reconciliation Day at Sundarijal in on Monday, Koirala said that he was not in favor of adding one more to the portrait gallery at the prime minister´s office in Singha Durbar.
"The dignity of the people and country is big deal for me. I am not in favor of adding one more portrait in the prime minister´s office just to show to others that I was also a prime minister. I won´t be prime minister except of the national consensus government," he said.
Koirala said he will not compromise with his political ideals to make it to the post of the prime minister. "The prime ministerial berth is not a big deal for me. I won´t become prime minister by compromising on the dignity of the country, people and the party," he added.
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